Finally, Facial Recognition for Cows Is Here

Face recognition has spread from airports to soccer games to elementary schools and now, farms and stables. Global food giant Cargill announced Wednesday that it is partnering with Cainthus, an Irish computer vision company, to pilot face recognition technology on cows starting this year. Privacy advocates may be less concerned by the threat of an encroaching bovine panopticon, but the worldwide pilot speaks to how both AI and face recognition technologies are slowly being embedded in all aspects of modern life. In a press release, Cainthus said the plan is to use face recognition to track the behavior, eating patterns, and overall health of livestock, then send instant alerts directly to farmers. By installing cameras in feeding areas, AI will scan cows' faces, then determine a baseline of typical behavior.